I get asked a lot if all my dogs work….the answer is yes they do. They also all started out in the house. Purpose bred puppies don’t need to sit in a pen next to livestock to develop instincts,they’re born with them. They don’t need to be left in a pen alone next to livestock to form a bond…they need to form a bond with you first, the rest will come and it won’t take 2 years for it to happen. Bring your puppies in, love on them, take them with you to do chores, and even run errands. No, leaving the property with you won’t instill bad habits either! It will just give your dog more experiences which actually helps them develop better threat assessment skills. If you have older guardians, sometimes they’ll teach by example. Livestock guardian breeds are meant to work in packs, or at least pairs. Leaving a puppy in a pen to “figure it out” is never going to substitute time spent with your dogs and livestock.
Hoof and Fang Spanish Mastiffs 